For Immediate Release – Office of State Senator Josh Becker – Monday, May 24, 2021
SB 596 Aims for 40% Reduction in Emissions by 2030, Carbon-Neutrality by 2045
SACRAMENTO – The Senate passed legislation Monday by state Senator Josh Becker to help California slash greenhouse gas emissions from the production of concrete and its main ingredient, cement.
In presenting Senate Bill 596, the Peninsula Democrat noted that concrete is the most widely used building material in the world and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. It accounts for about 7% of global CO2 emissions. In California, production of concrete is the second largest industrial source of GHG emissions, outstripped only by oil refineries.
“It is very important that we figure out how to transition to making concrete with far less impact on our climate,” Senator Becker said. “The good news is that technologies and processes exist for achieving large reductions in emissions from concrete and cement. These technologies have not been deployed at scale, though, because we don’t have the right policies in place to encourage emissions reductions and create demand for low carbon building products.”
SB 596 aims to create the supportive policy environment for that transition. The bill sets a goal of carbon neutrality for the concrete industry in California by 2045 and sets an interim target for a 40% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 to spur near term action.
SB 596 now moves to the Assembly for consideration by policy committees.
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Media Contact: Leslie Guevarra, leslie.guevarra@sen.ca.gov, 415-298-3404